1657 in literature

The year 1657 in literature involved some significant events.

Events

• Prohibition of young male actors in Japan.
• Madame de la Fayette becomes friends with Madame de Sévigné.

New books

• François Hédelin, abbé d'Aubignac - Pratique du théâtre
• "William Allen" - Killing No Murder (variously attributed to Colonel Silius Titus, Edward Sexby or William Allen; Sexby admits authorship under duress)
• Cave Beck - The Universal Character
• Christiaan Huygens - De ratiociniis in ludo aleae
• Richard Kilburne - Typographie, a Brief Survey of the County of Kent
• Richard Ligon - A True and Exact History of the Island of Barbadoes
• Nihon Ōdai Ichiran
• Jeremy Taylor - Discourse of the Nature, Offices and Measures of Friendship
• Brian Walton, Bishop of Chester - Polyglot Bible

Drama

• Anonymous - Lust's Dominion published
• Richard Brome - The Queen's Exchange published
• Sir Aston Cockayne - The Obstinate Lady published
• Lodowick Carlell - The Fool Would be a Favorite, or The Discreet Lover published
  • - The Tragedy of Osmond the Great Turk, or the Noble Servant published
• George Gerbier d'Ouvilly - The False Favourite Disgraced, and the Reward of Loyalty published
• Franciscus van den Enden - Philedonius
• Andreas Gryphius - Katharina von Georgien
• Thomas Jordan - Fancy's Festivals (masque) published
• Thomas Middleton (died 1627) - No Wit, No Help Like a Woman's published
• Thomas Middleton - Two New Plays; first publication of Women Beware Women and More Dissemblers Besides Women

New poetry

• William Davenant - Poems on Several Occasions
• Angelus Silesius - Heilige Seelenlust (collection of hymns)

Births

• February 11 - Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle author (died 1757)
• November 26 - William Derham, theologian (died 1735)

Deaths

• March 7 - Hayashi Razan, philosopher (born 1583)
• August 29 - John Lilburne, political agitator and writer (born c. 1614)
• November 18 - Luke Wadding, historian (born 1588)
• date unknown - Richard Lovelace, poet (born 1618)